"Alright, enough about these things. As long as you think it's right, I'll support you unconditionally!"
Zhao Jiaqi wasn't pleased. She retorted, "If I do something wrong, will you still support me?"
Fan Zehao nodded without hesitation. "If you do something wrong, it's my fault for not correcting you properly. I'll take the blame, and it's not your fault. I'll still support you as always, but I'll kindly remind you when you're about to make a mistake!"
He spoke with such passion and logic, yet Zhao Jiaqi felt something was off.
After pondering for a moment, it sounded like he was lecturing a child!
She turned back and playfully chided him. He was already so old, yet he still treated her like a child. Besides, she was in her thirties and always thought things through before acting. How could she make such a basic mistake!
"Let's go quickly. Let's head to Shangmen Village. First, we'll pay respects at Old Man Chen's grave, then we'll go see Chen Yusheng!"
If they kept chattering, they'd walk until dark and accomplish nothing.
Fan Zehao grinned foolishly, holding his wife's soft and fair hand. They walked along the road happily. The mention of Shangmen Village always made him feel a bit odd.
His talkative nature was hard to shake. He started muttering to the woman beside him again, "Why does the name Shangmen Village... make me feel like this village can't keep its men!"
Zhao Jiaqi was speechless. "What's wrong with you? It's just called Shangmen Village, don't tell me you really think all the men in the village become live-in sons-in-law!"
"Perhaps it's men from other villages who marry into Shangmen Village, which is why it got its name, who knows!"
She was completely defeated by Fan Zehao. His mind was usually quite normal, but as soon as he dropped his pretense, he turned back into his "husky" self, foolish and adorably clumsy.
He didn't accept his wife's explanation, but he didn't argue either. In his mind, the name sounded unpleasant and always gave him the wrong impression.
"You're a woman, I won't argue with you. I'll ask Chen Yusheng later, and then I'll know!"
Ask if he dared! Who was afraid of whom!
Zhao Jiaqi gave him a roll of her eyes and ignored him. She tilted her head back to enjoy the refreshing breeze, her nostrils filled with the scent of grass from the fields.
The road wasn't long, but it took them nearly an hour. By the time they reached Shangmen Village, Zhao Jiaqi was holding a bunch of wildflowers, small white and yellow daisies.
In his words, "Autumn is dry, and it's easy to start a fire when burning paper at the grave. It's better to bring some flowers to express our sentiments!"
"I won't argue with you, you're right!" Zhao Jiaqi threw this out and walked ahead.
Her subtle influence had actually taught him basic safety common sense. Good, although she had failed as a teacher in educating children, she had succeeded in educating an adult!
The two of them walked up the mountain and found Old Man Chen's grave. Seeing that the surroundings were all cleaned up, it seemed Chen Yusheng frequently visited his father.
After tidying their clothes, they respectfully placed the flowers, bowed three times, and spoke with Old Man Chen for a while before planning to head down the mountain.
By chance, they ran into villagers on their way up to chop firewood. The villagers stopped in their tracks and stared at the couple.
The villagers didn't recognize the two, but seeing them placing flowers for the former village chief, their hostility lessened. They asked, "Who are you two? Do you know our old village chief?"
Fan Zehao smiled at the young villagers and said, "We're relatives of Old Man Chen. We were passing through Shangmen Village, so we came to see him and also to check on younger brother Yusheng. We don't know if he's in the village."
Chen Liuzi, upon hearing they were relatives of the old village chief, immediately became very enthusiastic. He led them down the mountain, his words never stopping. "The village chief is great. He's very responsible towards us. No matter whose family has a problem, the village chief is always the first to respond. Look at our village houses, they've all been rebuilt with new ones, except for the village chief's family who haven't rebuilt theirs yet!"
Looking down from the mountainside, the entire village was filled with houses of blue bricks and tiles, except for the one in the middle, a mud house, just like it had been a few years ago. Kuaishu Ge.
Zhao Jiaqi was puzzled and asked, "Chen Liuzi, does Yusheng not have money to build a house?"
"Ah, the village chief says it's just him now. Living in a nice house is useless. A house that can shelter him is enough!"
Years had passed, and Chen Yusheng was still unmarried?
Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao were both astonished. If they hadn't come this time, they might never have known!
Upon entering the village, every household was busy. Some were peeling corn husks, some were shelling corn kernels, some were drying corn, and even twelve or thirteen-year-old children were helping.
As they walked through, Zhao Jiaqi saw that the farmers' courtyards were neat and clean, no longer like the dilapidated houses of the past.
She whispered in Fan Zehao's ear, "Could it be that Chen Yusheng hasn't recovered from the grief of Old Man Chen's death?"
"That shouldn't be the case. When we buried Old Man Chen, Chen Yusheng was quite calm. Besides, it's been a long time, and even the deepest grief can be relieved."
Fan Zehao sighed. No matter how close their father-son relationship was, and no matter how much he missed him, a dead person could not be brought back to life. He couldn't go on living like this.
This made the couple feel even more guilty towards Old Man Chen, who had sacrificed his life.
Entering the village chief's house, Chen Liuzi shouted towards the house, "Village chief, your relatives are here to see you!"
A moment later, a man in a gray robe walked out from the main hall. He was handsome and refined, but his face bore the marks of accumulated weariness.
"What relatives..." As soon as he spoke, Chen Yusheng froze!
Seeing the arrivals, Chen Yusheng stopped speaking. His eyes were filled with disbelief, and he hurried forward a few steps.
"It hasn't been that long, and you don't recognize us anymore!" Fan Zehao smiled and squeezed his shoulder, then patted it. He nodded with satisfaction. "Your physique is good. You haven't neglected your exercise just because you're the village chief. I despise those who look good but are useless."
Familiar people, familiar voices, even these actions were the same as before. Chen Yusheng's eyes welled up with tears, and he laughed and cried, "I didn't expect you two to come. I'm a bit surprised. Please, come inside and sit!"
Chen Yusheng invited them into the house. As he turned, Chen Liuzi tugged at his sleeve and asked with concern, "Village chief, why are you crying? Did those two bully you? Don't be afraid, I'll go find people to back you up!"
"Which eye of yours saw me being bullied? You're talking nonsense. Go home quickly. I'm fine, just don't disturb me!" Chen Yusheng sent Chen Liuzi out of the house without a word.
With a bang, he closed the door and latched it. Now no one could disturb their conversation.
As soon as he entered the house, he knelt down towards the couple. However, before his knees could touch the ground, Fan Zehao pulled him up.
With a displeased look, "What are you doing? You really don't consider us family!"
"To have a relative like the Regent King, I couldn't ask for more. It's just that there are differences in status..."
Hearing this again, Fan Zehao impatiently gestured with his arm. "Enough, if I truly cared, my honor guard would have arrived in full splendor. Why would we, a couple, walk all the way here!"